HC Deb 10 November 1921 vol 148 cc637-8W
Major M. WOOD

asked the Secretary for Scotland what newspapers contained the intimation that applications for small holdings from ex-service men received after 1st March, 1921, would receive no preference: and whether the decision will be suspended in the case of ex-service men who are still in hospital or have only recently left it?

Mr. MURRAY

The announcement was issued to the principal newspapers in Scotland and to the Press agencies. It appeared in daily newspapers published in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and was referred to in various other Scottish newspapers. The Board of Agriculture will be prepared to receive applications from ex-service men, such as those referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, but I cannot give any undertaking that the decision will be suspended.

Sir L. HARMSWORTH

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Board of Agriculture intend their intimation of 14th October, issued to ex-service applicants for land throughout Caithness, to apply to those in the burgh of Wick who are carters with businesses of their own or in which they are engaged with parents; and, if so, will he reconsider this decision, in view of the fact that it is not reasonable that such applicants should be given the option of either accepting land so far away as 20 miles from their place of employment or having their names removed from the list of eligible applicants for land, especially since the land applied for was meant to be a pertinent of their business and to provide the applicants with means of employment during normal slack seasons when their horses could be utilised for cultivating land in place of lying idle?

Mr. MORISON

The answer to the first; part of the question is in the affirmative. My hon. Friend will appreciate that if the funds available for land settlement are to be economically applied in the interests of the greatest possible number of applicants it is not practicable to undertake to satisfy individual preferences as td the situation and type of holdings. I can, however, assure my hon. Friend that the Board of Agriculture for Scotland will give sympathetic consideration to applications from ex-service men for ancillary holdings of the nature mentioned in the question in connection with schemes in progress or those that may be projected in the future.